2 More Killed In Baltimore City As Hundreds March To Stop The Violence

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Taking to the streets. Hundreds of Baltimore men gather for a ten mile march to stop the violence in our community.

This–as two more people are murdered in Baltimore.

Meghan McCorkell has more on the “300 Men March.”

Organizers were hoping for 300 people to march alongside them against violence in the city, and it looks like they may have doubled that.

A sea of men stand shoulder to shoulder as they march to send a message.

“It’s a show of strength. That we do care. These are our neighborhoods. These are our families and we will not let the evil factors take over the little bit of what we do have,” said Munir Bahar, march organizer.

The ten mile walk–along North Avenue from West Baltimore to East Baltimore and back.

“It has a lot of violence surrounding it. North Avenue is known as the belly of the best, so to speak,” said Brandon Scott, Baltimore City Council.

City leaders say the community needs to step up to stop the violence.

“While we’re sitting around scapegoating, our family is dying in the streets,” said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

“Time for talk is over. Time for saying enough is enough is over, time for saying a lot of different things. It’s time for action,” said Commissioner Anthony Batts, Baltimore City Police.

Police have doubled patrols throughout the city after a spike in shootings. But Friday afternoon, another murder. A woman killed inside an apartment in the Upton Courts complex.

Investigators say this neighborhood is one of the crime hot spots where they’ve increased patrols.

Those rallying say it’s going to take more than added police to make the bullets stop.

“Violence is an infectious disease. It’s an epidemic. When the kids see something going on in the neighborhood, they think it’s okay to do,” said Delano Johnson, Safe Streets.

“If the younger guys see the older guys doing positive things, it will change their perspective on things,” said Derrick Rivers, West Baltimore.

Those here–hoping to set an example for the next generation.

Organizers say they hope the march inspires more people to get involved with rec centers and youth programs.

This year, 120 people have been killed in the city of Baltimore. That’s compared to 108 this time last year.

Meghan McCorkell

Meghan McCorkell joined the Eyewitness News team in July 2011 as a General Assignment Reporter.
She came to Baltimore from Columbus, Ohio where she spent nearly three years at WSYX/WTTE. While there, she traveled to Haiti to cover relief efforts...